Government announces changes to the "punishment law".

Today the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced final regulations to modify the process for obtaining a waiver under the "law of punishment". This change will help thousands of U.S. citizens who have undocumented immediate family members - parents, spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 - when they apply for residency ... Read more

What is the SAVE program and how does it work?

This week in my column in La Opinión, I explain what legal residents and naturalized U.S. citizens must do to obtain public benefits. Before you can receive a public benefit such as a Social Security card, Medicaid, food stamps or even a driver's license, the government agencies that grant these benefits must verify the ... Read more

Why you should use an attorney to file for deferred action

In my column this week in La Opinión, I give more details about the requirements that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is imposing to implement the deferred action program for undocumented youth and explain why it is necessary to consult with an attorney to complete the process. In addition to reaffirming that the ... Read more

More than 13 million permanent residents live in the U.S.

More than 13 million permanent residents have been living in the United States since January 1, 2011, according to a report released this month by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report indicates that most of these individuals obtained their permanent residency after 2000 and that approximately 8.5 ... Read more

Readers ask about punishment law

Questions continue to be asked about the proposed change to the penalty law. Unfortunately, the USCIS proposal has not yet been approved. As soon as a decision is made, I will be updating you. In my La Opinión column this week I answer several questions from readers, including two about the punishment law. Here I answer from ... Read more

How to change your address with USCIS and the Department of State

The law requires most non-U.S. citizens to notify the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of address changes within 10 days of moving. It is the sole responsibility of the person applying for immigration benefits for himself or herself or his or her family that the USCIS ... Read more

Doubts remain about provisional pardon to the law of punishment

The new proposal by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that would establish a provisional waiver of the punishment law continues to generate many questions. In my column this week I continue to answer some of them. Please don't trust anyone who tells you that this is already a done deal. It is still a proposal. ... Read more

USCIS continues to accept H-1B visa applications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that since the registration period opened on April 2, they have received 25,000 H-1B visa petitions that count toward the 65,000 capped quota and another 10,900 that count toward the 20,000 quota dedicated to individuals with degrees ... Read more

Those who would not qualify for provisional pardon under the law of retribution

The new proposal by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that would establish a provisional waiver of the punishment law has generated many questions from readers. This week in my column in La Opinión I answer some of them. Here I provide a general answer to your questions. Each case is different, so you should consult ... Read more

New visa quotas go into effect

New quotas for immigrant and nonimmigrant visas went into effect on Friday, April 13, 2012. Fees for most nonimmigrant visa and border crossing card applications have increased, while fees for immigrant visa applications have decreased. The reduction in the cost of ... Read more

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